Shameena Abdullah1, P.G. Saji2, Ganga Gangadhara Kaimal3
BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue to be discussed in this current
era due to its increasing prevalence. The burden due to chronic kidney disease is
very high especially in low and middle income countries. The prevalence of
psychiatric morbidity is high in patients undergoing haemodialysis. The presence
of psychiatric illness increases the risk of hospitalisation and mortality in patients
with end stage renal disease. This study was conducted to assess the psychiatric
morbidity of patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance haemodialysis.
METHODS
Descriptive research design was used for the study. The sample of the study
consisted of 180 patients above the age of 18 years with chronic kidney disease
undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. A specially designed pro-forma, ICD 10
symptoms check list, and ICD 10 diagnostic criteria for research are the tools used
for the study.
RESULTS
Most of the patients were from 41 - 50 years age group (27.8 %) with a mean
age of 47.43 and majority were males (74.4 %). 45.6 % patients had plan for
renal transplant and 62.2 % patients were on twice weekly haemodialysis. The
primary diagnosis was chronic glomerulonephritis in 33.9 % and diabetic
nephropathy in 32.8 % of study participants. 11.7 % of study participants had IgA
nephropathy and 9.4 % of study participants had ischemic renal failure. 23.9% of
participants were found to have psychiatric morbidity. The most common
psychiatric illness was depression which was reported in 15.0 % of study
population. 6.1 % of participants had adjustment disorder, 2.2 % had anxiety
disorder and 0.6 % had psychosis. The mean duration of dialysis was 2 years in
patients with psychiatric illness.
CONCLUSIONS
A male preponderance was found in the study population. High psychiatric
morbidity is found among patients undergoing haemodialysis and depression is
the most common psychiatric disorder identified.
